After a windstorm, the first hours are about safety and keeping water out. The next days are about records. A clear, dated file of what happened makes an insurance claim — and a roofer’s quote — far easier to settle.
Stay safe first.
Don’t climb onto a wet or storm-damaged roof. Photograph it from the ground, from upstairs windows or with your camera’s zoom, and leave the roof itself to a professional. Keep well away from downed power lines and report them to the utility.
Photograph before anything is moved.
- Wide shots of every side of the house, then close-ups of each damaged spot.
- Missing or lifted shingles, branches on the roof, dented gutters, vents and flashing.
- Inside: ceiling stains, drips, wet attic insulation and damaged belongings.
- Shingles and debris in the yard — keep the pieces until your insurer has seen them.
Your phone saves the date and time with every photo. Keep the originals, not just copies sent through a messaging app.
Write down what happened.
Note the date and time of the storm, what you saw and heard, and when you first noticed each problem. If you need to show when severe weather hit your area, NOAA’s Storm Events Database keeps National Weather Service records by county — recent events can take up to a few months to appear.
Stop further damage — and keep the receipts.
Washington’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner notes that you can make emergency repairs yourself if you are able to, and advises keeping receipts for materials such as tarps to cover a damaged roof. Stick to temporary fixes, and hold off on permanent repairs until your insurer has seen the damage, unless they tell you otherwise.
Keep one folder
Photos, notes, receipts, the claim number and every email with your insurer and contractors. The Insurance Commissioner’s advice is simply: keep copies of everything.
File the claim and get an inspection.
Contact your agent or insurance company, be ready to share your photos and receipts, and write down the claim number. In Washington, your insurer has 30 days from the date you file the claim to inspect the damage to your home.
You have the right to choose your own contractor. Read anything a contractor asks you to sign — the Commissioner warns about “assignment of benefits” agreements, which hand your claim benefits to the contractor. Before you hire anyone, check their Washington L&I registration.
Plan for what the claim won’t cover.
Deductibles, upgrades and older wear are often yours to pay. A planning range for your roof shows what a full replacement could cost, so you can weigh repair against replacement with real numbers.